COUNCIL RESOLUTION

of 25 June 1996

on industrial cooperation with other regions and third countries, inter alia in the Mediterranean

(96/C 203/02)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

I

With reference to Article 130 of the Treaty establishing the European Community;

Having regard to the White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment;

Having regard to the Commission communication of 14 September 1994 (1) entitled 'An industrial competitiveness policy for the European Union`;

Having regard to the Commission communication of 16 March 1995 on the development of industrial cooperation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (2);

Recalling its conclusions of 22 April 1994 on improving the competitiveness of European industry in which in particular it:

- stressed that it is vital for the growth of European industry that it strengthen its presence on growth markets and that the development of industrial cooperation be able to make a very positive contribution to that strengthening process,

- requested the Commission to draw up communications on industrial cooperation with the third countries with which the Community has traditionally had closer ties for historical and cultural reasons;

Recalling its resolution of 21 November 1994 on the strengthening of the competitiveness of Community industry (3), which lists, among measures to be adopted with particular urgency, the strengthening of cooperation with the third countries most concerned by:

- backing of efforts by partner countries to establish stable, free-enterprise framework conditions,

- examination of the proposals announced by the Commission for industrial cooperation with those countries and accelerated implementation of appropriate measures;

Recalling its conclusions of 7 April 1995 on competitiveness, in which it noted with interest that the Commission's action on industrial policy covers the following points in particular:

- organization of industrial round tables, particularly involving countries with which the Community traditionally maintains close relations for historical and cultural reasons,

- promotion of industrial cooperation by the creation of a database listing opportunities for cooperation,

- support for industrial cooperation projects of Community interest through the implementation and utilization of existing Community instruments;

Recalling its conclusions of 7 April 1995 concerning industrial cooperation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in which it called, inter alia, on the Commission to continue its work on industrial cooperation with the other third countries with which the Community traditionally has close ties and to submit further communications on the subject in the near future;

Recalling its conclusions of 6 and 7 November 1995 on industrial cooperation with other regions and third countries in which, in particular, it:

- recognized the role of investment and industrial cooperation in strengthening the European Union's industrial competitiveness and in promoting the socioeconomic development of certain regions, such as Central and Eastern Europe in the context of the pre-accession strategy, the Mediterranean and Latin America,

- stressed that the implementation of this strategy will stimulate cooperation between economic operators and will have a multiplier effect on the development of various forms of cooperation between undertakings,

- considered that this strategy must be based on the principles of partnership, planning and transparency and that, within this framework, particular attention should be given to industrial investment projects and to the development of the related infrastructure,

- invited the Commission to submit, in 1996, a communication on all aspects of industrial cooperation with the other regions and third countries with which the Union has historically had close ties in order to define an industry-oriented action strategy by determining appropriate lines, criteria and procedures to be followed

and in which, in particular, within the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Barcelona on 27 and 28 November 1995, it invited:

- the participants in the Conference to look at industrial cooperation as a major instrument for economic development and job creation in the Mediterranean, giving particular encouragement to industrial investment projects and related infrastructure projects,

- the Commission to submit, in 1996, a communication on all aspects of Euro-Mediterranean industrial cooperation in order to identify appropriate lines, criteria and procedures to be followed in order to implement a more industry-oriented action strategy,

- the Presidency and the Commission to organize early in 1996 a conference bringing together the Ministers for Industry of the European Union and our Mediterranean partners in order to open detailed discussions on the development of industrial cooperation within the framework of Euro-Mediterranean policy;

Having regard to the Final Declaration of the Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Barcelona of 27 and 28 November 1995 and the work programme annexed thereto;

Having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements concluded with Tunisia, Israel and Morocco;

Having regard to the Final Declaration of the European Union/United States Summit of 3 December 1995;

Having regard to the Interregional Framework Agreement between the European Union and Mercosur signed at the Madrid European Council on 15 and 16 December 1995;

Having regard to the Declaration of the President of the Europe-Asia Conference of 2 March 1996,

II

WELCOMES the progress made in industrial cooperation with third countries and other regions as a means of strengthening the industrial competitiveness of the European Union and the socioeconomic development of those countries.

In particular:

(1) as regards the countries of Central and Eastern Europe

notes with satisfaction the progress made within the framework of the structured dialogue with countries which have applied for accession to the Union;

invites the Commission to examine further the industrial aspects of the difficulties underlying these accessions;

recognizes the value of the initiatives taken by the Commission in the Forum on the information society which began on 23 June 1995, and notes that the next meeting will be held on 12 and 13 September 1996 in Prague;

(2) as regards the former Yugoslavia

welcomes - in connection with the recommendations made by the States and international institutions which attended the Donor Conference for the reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 12 and 13 April 1996 in Brussels - the initiative taken by the Commission, in close collaboration with the European industrial federations and associations, in organizing on 23 July in Brussels a conference with the European Union's industrial circles aimed at raising awareness of the cooperation needs and opportunities in that country;

(3) as regards Asia

expresses its satisfaction with the outcome of the first Euro-Asian Summit (Asem) on 2 March 1996, following which it was decided to examine, in more detail, mutual cooperation between undertakings through the establishment of the Euro-Asian Business Forum, the first meeting of which will be held in France in 1996;

notes the initiatives planned by the Commission within the framework of the strategy for cooperation with China and in particular the industrial round table held on 23 May 1996;

(4) as regards Latin America

welcomes the new industrial prospects opened up by the economic changes in Latin America and the enhanced mutual cooperation possibilities opened up by the agreements concluded or being negotiated by the European Union with several Latin American States or groups of States, including Mercosur, Chile and Mexico;

(5) as regards the ACP States and southern Africa

stresses that the signing in Mauritius on 4 November 1995 of the Agreement amending the Fourth ACP-EC Convention of Lomé between the European Union and the ACP countries and of the eighth Financial Protocol will lead to greater complementarity between the development strategies defined by the ACP countries and the cooperation policy objectives and priorities of the European Union;

notes with satisfaction the progress made in relations between the European Union and South Africa which should lead to an economic and commercial cooperation framework agreement and which have led the European Union to cooperate with South Africa in organizing a meeting in Pretoria from 13 to 15 May 1996, under the auspices of the G7, on the information society and development;

(6) as regards the United States

welcomes the outcome of the European Union and United States Heads of Business Conference (Transatlantic Business Dialogue) which was held on 10 and 11 November 1995 and which marked the beginning of a new phase of transatlantic economic and trade dialogue;

notes the documents adopted at the last European Union/United States Summit in Madrid on 3 December 1995 at which the foundations for strengthening transatlantic ties, including economic ties, were laid;

(7) as regards Japan

recognizes the importance of consolidating and deepening the industrial policy dialogue between the European Union and Japan brought about through the Centre for Industrial Cooperation set up in 1987, which has led, inter alia, to the launching of a series of joint cooperation programmes.

III

As regards the Mediterranean

expresses satisfaction with progress made in Euro-Mediterranean relations following the Barcelona Conference on 27 and 28 November 1995 and with the various initiatives planned by the Presidency and the Commission to carry out the work programme agreed on as a follow-up to the Conference;

endorses the Presidency's initiative in convening on 20 and 21 May 1996 in Brussels the inaugural Conference of Ministers for Industry of the European Union and Mediterranean third countries on industrial economic partnership, and in this connection:

- stresses that the industrial development of the Mediterranean, which should take account of all the priority factors of the competitiveness policy as a means for creating an area of shared prosperity, is the basis for the gradual affirmation of an open and competitive economy and one of the prerequisites for attracting increased investment,

- considers that this Ministerial Conference is an opportunity for detailed and frank discussion on the industrial development of the Mediterranean partner countries and the lines and actions to be followed in order to translate into action the industrial aspect of the Euro-Mediterranean economic and financial partnership,

- recognizes that the development of Euro-Mediterranean industrial initiatives and actions should be designed to ensure an integrated and coherent approach and accordingly considers it essential to define a specific work programme through detailed examination of the most important factors affecting industrial policy,

- expresses the hope, finally, that the outcome of the Conference will make an important contribution to the future work of the Commission, in particular as regards the communication it will shortly be submitting on Euro-Mediterranean industrial cooperation.

IV

CALLS ON THE COMMISSION:

- to step up its proceedings with a view to submitting suitable communications and proposals on industrial cooperation with the third countries with which the Community has traditionally had closer ties for historical and cultural reasons,

- to submit a biennial report to the Council on action taken in the area of Community industrial cooperation with third countries.

V

UNDERTAKES:

to organize a discussion, on the basis of the Commission's report, for the purpose of evaluating the contribution made by industrial cooperation to strenghtening the competitiveness of European industry and to the socioeconomic development of the third countries concerned.

(1) COM(94) 319 final.

(2) COM(95) 71 final.

(3) OJ No C 343, 6. 12. 1994, p. 1.